Macacine gammaherpesvirus 4 (McHV-4), commonly known as rhesus lymphocryptovirus (RLV), is a species of virus in the genus Lymphocryptovirus, subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae, family Herpesviridae, and order Herpesvirales.[1]
| Macacine gammaherpesvirus 4 | |
|---|---|
Virus classification 
| |
| (unranked): | Virus |
| Realm: | Duplodnaviria |
| Kingdom: | Heunggongvirae |
| Phylum: | Peploviricota |
| Class: | Herviviricetes |
| Order: | Herpesvirales |
| Family: | Orthoherpesviridae |
| Genus: | Lymphocryptovirus |
| Species: | Macacine gammaherpesvirus 4
|
| Synonyms | |
| |
In nature, Macacine gammaherpesvirus 4 infects rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).
Comparison with Human gammaherpesvirus 4
editIts genetic structure has been fully sequenced and found to be highly homologous with that of Human gammaherpesvirus 4, commonly known as Epstein-Barr virus, at 65%. The structural proteins are highly conserved, while genes expressed during Human gammaherpesvirus 4 latent infection are much less well conserved. Even in cases where genes have low homology, the Macacine gammaherpesvirus 4 infection genes are functionally interchangeable with Human gammaherpesvirus 4 genes.[2]
Macacine gammaherpesvirus 4 infection in rhesus monkeys resembles Human gammaherpesvirus 4 infection in humans in several respects:
- Oral transmission,
- Atypical lymphocytosis
- Lymphadenopathy
- Activation of CD23+ peripheral blood B cells
- Sustained serologic responses to lytic and latent Human gammaherpesvirus 4 antigens
- Latent infection in the peripheral blood
- Virus persistence in oropharyngeal secretions
These features make the rhesus lymphocryptovirus potentially useful for studying the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of Human gammaherpesvirus 4 infection and associated oncogenesis.[3]
References
edit
- ^ "ICTV Master Species List 2018b.v2". International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). Retrieved 19 June 2019.[dead link]
- ^ Rivailler P, Jiang H, Cho YG, Quink C, Wang F (2002). "Complete nucleotide sequence of the rhesus lymphocryptovirus: genetic validation for an Epstein-Barr virus animal model". J. Virol. 76 (1): 421–6. doi:10.1128/jvi.76.1.421-426.2002. PMC 135707. PMID 11739708.
- ^ Amir Moghaddam; Michael Rosenzweig; David Lee-Parritz; Bethany Annis; R. Paul Johnson; Fred Wang (1997). "An Animal Model for Acute and Persistent Epstein-Barr Virus Infection". Science. 276 (5321): 2030–2033. doi:10.1126/science.276.5321.2030. PMID 9197263.